Iran Blocks Instagram Account of "Bibi Kitchen" Restaurant Over Alleged Political Mockery

Iranian authorities have blocked the Instagram account of the Tehran-based restaurant "Bibi Kitchen" following a post that was interpreted as a political jab at the regime. The page was shut down by court order for "posting illegal content," according to a September 16 report by Ynet. The restaurant had shared a story with the caption "Bibi cutlet is beyond competition," accompanied by a song by Iranian pop singer Moin titled "Bibi Gol." The post quickly went viral, leading to the account's suspension.

While the post was ostensibly an advertisement for a menu item, the words used carry political undertones in Iran. "Bibi" in Old Persian means "grandmother," but it is also a nickname for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Opponents of the Iranian regime have used it in memes to express support for Israeli strikes. The word "cutlet" has also acquired political significance in Iran since the January 2020 assassination of Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani. It has been used mockingly to refer to high-ranking regime officials killed in U.S. or Israeli strikes.

Consequently, the restaurant's post was interpreted as a veiled reference to the elimination of Iranian leadership by Israel. Iranian authorities have a history of prosecuting individuals for similar online activities. In January 2023, renowned chef Navab Ebrahimi was detained after posting a cutlet recipe on the anniversary of Soleimani's assassination; his restaurant was closed and his account deleted. In January 2024, a doctor and university lecturer in northeastern Iran was arrested for posting a photo of a cutlet on the night of the assassination of IRGC official Razi Mousavi. In June 2026, a criminal case was opened against Iranian playwright and director Hossein Pakdel for allegedly "disrupting the psychological security of society" after he posted that politics turns foolish men into special dietary cutlets.

Amid the ongoing war, Iranian authorities have intensified crackdowns on posts related to Israel. In March 2026, the regime reported the detention of over 1,000 individuals on suspicion of "spreading anti-government materials" or collaborating with Israel and the U.S. Iran's judiciary has warned that aiding hostile states could be punishable by death.